Death penalty possible

BY TRACY JOHNSON, P-I reporter

Published 10:00 pm, Tuesday, August 1, 2006

A man accused of opening fire at the downtown Seattle Jewish Federation offices, killing one woman and wounding five others, now faces nine criminal charges - including a hate crime and a charge that could bring the death penalty.

Police say Haq declared anger at Israel, which has been engaged in increasing violence with Hezbollah forces in Lebanon during the past few weeks, before he began shooting on Friday. He also allegedly stated that U.S. troops needed to get out of Iraq.

"In order to make his political statement, he left a wake of tears, serious wounds and death," King County Prosecutor Norm Maleng said. "This is one of the most serious hate crimes that has ever occurred in our community."

Haq will be arraigned next week in Superior Court. Maleng will have 30 days from the Aug. 10 hearing to decide whether he will as jurors to impose a death sentence if Haq is convicted of the most serious charge, aggravated murder.

Police say Haq got into the secured offices by shoving a gun to the back of a 14-year-old girl - the niece of a woman who was later wounded -- and forcing her to let him inside, leading to the burglary and kidnapping charges.